The King

Adult Conversation

I looked up from my phone to see the King himself sprawled out in one of the armchairs. His hair was disheveled, and his white button-up now had the first few buttons undone. My heart rate increased as I looked at him and my wolf went wild, wanting to pounce on him right away. I tried my best to act indifferent towards him as I walked to the opposite armchair and sat down in it. I curled my legs up in the chair and leaned against an arm as I started scrolling through my messages. I noticed him shift in his chair out of the corner of my eye, pulling at his pants before sitting forward. I smirked. At least I was making him uncomfortable, I thought. After a few minutes of silence, he finally asked, "Little Dot, are you going on a hunger strike?"

I stopped my texting, looking up at him quizzically, "Hmm… you know I hadn't thought about that, but that's a good idea. Seeing as I'd rather die than be stuck here. Thanks for the suggestion."

He looked hurt. Finally, I had wounded the big bad King enough for him to show actual emotion. Unfortunately, my joy was short-lived when I started feeling guilty for hurting him. f**k the mate bond! I looked down at my phone again to prevent myself from apologizing. I heard him sigh, "Acelynn, I would appreciate it if you would put your phone down and have an adult conversation with me. Instead of just making statements to try and hurt me."

I was irritated by his statement, but I also knew the only way out of his apartment was to gain his trust. I sat my phone down on the arm of the chair and looked up at him. His expression was again calm and composed, which I hated. "Why have you refused every meal brought to you today?" he asked.

I sighed, frustrated by the recurring question, "For starters, I didn't eat that much before. I would graze all day or have one large meal. Today my emotions are all over the place. That with the stress of everything is making me nauseous."

He ran his hand through his hair as he contemplated my answer. "You are a wolf. How do you not want to eat all the time?" he questioned.

"That trait skipped me, I guess. Though it could be that I was conditioned to be that way at a young age," I answered.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

I looked away from him and into the empty fireplace. "My mother died giving birth to me. It made things difficult since most she-wolves breastfeed their pups. My father resorted to human formula, but at the time, he was struggling with losing his mate and trying to take care of the baby that caused her death. My father refused help, and my brothers and sister were too young to help me. So from what I've been told, I was left to cry a lot and wasn't fed on a normal schedule. I think I just kind of got used to it and never really changed."

I looked back at him. It was hard for me to read his face. It seemed torn between anger and sadness. He cleared his throat, "I am sorry that you had to go through that. I don't want you going hungry here. What can I do now that would make you happier so that you can eat dinner?" he asked.

I was taken aback by his question. I didn't expect to get this opportunity already. "I want to be able to go where I want on the palace grounds," I stated, holding my breath for his answer.

He thought about it for a moment. I could tell he wasn't ready for me to be roaming around freely. "How about you can move about freely inside the palace starting tomorrow," was his answer.

I was irritated I wanted outside. "I won't run again. I promise," I said with more of a whine than I attended.

"Trust is earned Dot, it'll take time," he said with a sigh.

"If you think I act like a child and you are going to treat me like a child, then why don't you just reject me?" I asked. "Then you can pick someone who will bow down to your every rule and won't hate being locked away."

"Dot, I am giving you more than I planned to already," He said, irritated.

"Stop calling me Dot. That is not my name!" I spat back.

He sighed as he got out of his chair, walking towards me. He walked behind me, and I went to turn towards him, but I felt his hand on my hair, pulling my hair tie out. His touch sent shivers down my spine. He leaned down to my level, looking into my eyes, "I like your hair down better, and I also like my pet name for you. I won't reject you because I know part of this behavior is you purposely trying to get me to reject you. I don't want a mate that will bow down to me. I want you to be my partner, my equal. All I am asking is that you give me time. You hurt me last night more than you know."

Before I could fully process what he said and come up with a reply, he was walking out the door, leaving me alone again.